In terms of Fairbanks, we have seen a number of very nice houses in our price range, albeit on the higher side of it. There are some smaller/more dated ones we also saw that we could update or expand (assuming it is permitted)that were around $3 mil or less.

Comps for the past 6 months show pretty steady drops in FBR and sales prices about 90%+ of asking. While we prefer to buy at least a 10 yr house and preferbly a 20 yr house, you never know what life brings so we always want to maximize appreciation where possible. But this is not a flip situation and we are not looking for a “transition” home either.

I suppose if a year from now we have still not bought anything, we could consider renting until we do. But until then, we don’t need to move, just to rent, although your idea of renting and getting a feel for the area is a very good one.

I should note that I have lived in SD before for short periods (1 year each time). Once in the military on base and also in Del Mar (10th street) and Carmel Valley so I have a good feel for those areas. My last stint there was 10 yrs ago and my frame of mind so different back then (i.e. single bachelor life) that my prior experience in SD is utterly useless to me as a family man now. I am not lookig for cool, active, busy places to party any more and be seen, but rather quiet places to peacfully raise a family and grow old gracefully. That is probably why I never noticed RSF really when I lived there before.

While I often drove through RSF on weekends on my motorcycle back then, I never did so on weekdays and never really went into neighborhoods or knew much about the area. I had never been to FBR or even knew where it was, although now I realize I often drove near it. What has impressed me the most about FBR is not just the very nice homes, but how consistantly well manicured they all are. We do also like guarded gated communities for the added actual/or artificial security.